Vets ACT race today. 43kms and 540m climb (AT) 35.8kmh. A Grade had a paltry 7 riders, but they still went out hard. Just not as hard as Gunning two weeks ago. Felt really ordinary at the start and the 25km ride out didn't settle my stomach or stop my drizzling nose.

Sat in and decided to just watch how it unfolded and play point guard for my team mate and it all seemed easy. Stopped thinking about minor ailments and focussed on the attacks. There were several, but were easy to track down. Team mate attacked on a climb so I sat up and let the others chase. One of the bigger guys smashed down a descent and caught him. It was even stevens coming back and two small attacks brought the bunch size back to 4 contenders and a cling on.

The final 3kms is a slightly undulating section of road with a few slight pinches. Final section is a flat where the sprinters always sort out the finishing order. I had to unsettle their groove and avoid a cagey final chess game and sprint. I attacked with max intensity at 3kms out and got a gap. One of the guys is an ex-Aus rep and he chased hard and got within a few metres of me so I sat up. He did get right on my wheel and stayed a couple of metres off. I didn't want to be their lead out man, so with 10-15 sec recovery I went again. I just went as hard as I could for as long as I could and kept expecting the 2 big sprinters to come through. They didnt. Ended up with about 10m on 2nd crossing the line and opening up the gap a bit over the last 200m.

Quite enjoying this road racing malarky. I have only been riding about 4 years, and this is about my 6th road race, with a bunch of other MTB races in between. Its been nearly a couple of years since I last raced cos I made excuses with small children. Planning on getting a whole bunch of races in this year. Great fun, especially with the fast paced chess game unfolding as you ride. I also like that is so brutal and unapologetic when it comes to attacks.

My first race with the West Coast Masters, it was suggested I should race C grade. Happy to oblige, while I am a D grade at Peel, given it is now road race season, I should earn promotion in the couple of months to C grade. I was treating this race as a big learning experience.

It it was going to be interesting 6 laps, 57km race on a course I was riding for the first time with 34 participants. First couple of laps, I settled down the back and was happy there, The third lap, moved up had a look around, did a short turn on the front and then spent some time riding in the first third of the pack. Before drifting back down the group. It was a pretty uneventful race for almost 5 laps at a pretty hectic pace for me of 38 kph. Though it was not constant, sharp acceleration out of corner for 500m, steady pace till next corner, sharp acceleration out of corner for 500m and so on.

Early on the 5th lap, we got passed by 3 escapees from A grade. Expecting the rest of A, but nothing. Last corner of the 5th lap, a couple of cars, made the corner interesting, I was one of the people who got the line wrong and somebody on the front put the hammer down. Took about 3km of chasing to get back on, I got on as the group slowed and was passed by A grade. A grade never really distanced C grade, as well approached the final corner, C grade was attempting to pass A grade, when there was a touch of wheels. I saw a bike flying through the air and heard a sickening thud. Attempted evasive action, locked the rear brake, felt a bump on the rear, collided with the rider in front and we went down,we were not the only ones, around 10 of us hit the deck. Got up, starting disentangling bikes, when we realised one rider was not getting up. He had hit his head hard on the ground at speed.

Luckily one of the riders was a paramedic, another called an ambulance, another went for the club first aid officer and I helped out by slowing traffic, as the injured rider remained on the road. After our fallen comrade was placed in the ambulance, we finished the last kilometre or so at a sedate pace, finishing some 30 minutes after everybody else.

Up until the crash, I was enjoying the race and hoping to finish in the front half. However the crash put a big downer on the day.

Jumped in my first race on Sunday after nearly 4 weeks off... a FFC race, Department Championship as well... so it was going to hurt!. But I think they stuffed up the program a bit advertising 10 tours for D3-4 and 12 for D1-2 so they were obliged to run it like that. Was only 42-50km race instead of 50 and 58kms. To top it off they lumped us all in together with the same numbers on... just that D3-4 would do 2 laps less... so you didn't actually know who you were racing.This is my first year with a double license and I have been put in D3, about 60 on the line to start... first lap was 40km av which I found pretty tough, two good little hills and lots of tight corners covered in mud ... guys were going off the back from the gun, I struggled after very little warm up and just clung on for dear life, I saw a group of 10 go off the front but I was in no position to do anything but watch. About 6 laps in it settled down by which time I was feeling a lot better, sat up at the front but as I didn't have a clue who I was racing is was all a bit pointless.Last lap one of my team mates comes up and says he will lead me out as he still has 2 laps to go... but his lead out was way too slow and a couple of guys came round with about 400m to go, I jumped on them easily enough but I was too cooked to go round them.So 3rd in the sprint it was.Results only got put up yesterday, I would have had to hang around till the 120km race had finished otherwise to find out... so any way I wasn't classified ... even though we all had timers on no one was given times. Worked out I came 4th in my grade as one guy must have been off the front in the breakaway. So glad in the end I didn't mark any points!.Good training race and I was stuffed!... jumped in the car and headed off behind the main event for half a lap till I could turn off for home, saw a huge crash on one of the hills going up, so had to get out and help get bodies off the road... lots of road rash but no broken bones.Very sad to hear afterwards though that one of the spectators, a well know CX rider in the region was killed as he rode home when someone overtook another car and didn't see him and collected him head on... alcohol was involved .Can happen anywhere.

I had scouted the course out via Strava and Google maps/sreetview before signing up for the race. A quick couple ofs ighting laps and I found it was a lot more technical than my research revealed. For those unfamiliar with cycling terms a technical course is one with lots of difficult corners, and given my limited cornering skills this was going to be an interesting race.

I was racing with a couple of club mates, but neither were confident of lasting the distance. So team tactics discussions where limited. So I went into the race with simple tactics, start at close to the head of the race, get to the front early and ride hard, but not that hard my team mates get spat out the back. Wear a look of people out, and hopefully finish in the top 10.

A soon as they announced our race, I was in the marshalling area, but so was more than twenty of the 34 starters. I grabbed what I thought was a good position, on the far left with a couple of people in front of me, which should of meant when I rolled out of the marshalling area, turned left onto the course and I would of been close to the front of the race.

How wrong could I be, the rider in front rolled out onto the course, turned left, struggled to clip in and did not pedal. So riders streamed past us on the right and by the time he clipped in, we where at the back of the field and our race was run.

I then made the mistake of trying to work my way up slowly, trying to get past people in the straights. It was not until the 3rd lap I realised most people were cornering far more conservatively than me. If I dived up the inside, turned hard and accelerated quickly out the hairpin I could pass a couple of riders in one move. Unfortunately by this time it was too late, the field had broken up into small groups and the gaps between then, where increasing fast.

By the time I tagged on the back of the 3rd group on the 5th lap, I realised that I was as close to the front I would get. So I settled down to conserve as much energy as possible for a sprint. At one stage I did go to the front, went round a hairpin and stuff educe the line and quickly ended up on the back again. But most the time on the back, as I would not accelerate as hard as the rest of the group out of corners, as I did not need to. as it was easier on me to keep a constant pace, so I drop a few metres out of each hairpin but get then back before the next corner.

So I was on the back on the last lap, when one of the junior riders lost his front wheel, I took evasive action to avoid him and ended up way of the back of the group.

Finished about 17th out of 34, so not bad seeing where I ended up after the 1st 100m of the race. Still I should of done better, but I will know for next year, line up earlier and if things go wrong, be very aggressive in the first couple of laps to get to the front group.

Nick interesting to read your report. I entered the same race. It was my first time racing, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I decided to stay as close to the front as possible and managed to win. I think that will be my first and last race in D grade!

Bakks wrote:Nick interesting to read your report. I entered the same race. It was my first time racing, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I decided to stay as close to the front as possible and managed to win. I think that will be my first and last race in D grade!

No worries about that, another forum member having his 3rd race also beat me, finishing at the front of the 2nd group. (Hi Ben)

And I did not even beat my nemesis for this race, one of the MCC under 15s who beat my last time we raced, was in the 3rd group. Actually I dragged him into the group. But with the accident, I missed my chance for revenge ;-) Still he was the only junior to beat me, I think.

Still I know I am not a great racer, I am 52, reasonable level of fitness but am on performance decreasing drugs and my tactics, positioning and bike handling skills need to a lot to be desired. Of the 150 racers on Sunday, I would of been around the 110th to 120th best criterium rider. Road racer on flattish course, probably closer to 100th. So yes I expect to get beaten by riders starting out, who are stronger than me and have a modicum of sense.

Bakks congratulations on the win, it was a tough course and from what I saw of the riders you where with, a hard race.

So hopefully you got bitten with the bug and looking forward to your next race.

If you are interested (and have a 3 event or full licence) Peel District Cycling Club opens it's road racing season tomorrow at 2pm at Serpentine (non members are welcome, just don't mention Cycling WA policy).

I would get to Serpentine Horse and Pony Club at 1pm, I suggest you nominate for C grade (a club D grade road race, would be a piece of cake after Thursday for you) and see how you go on a flat but no necessarily smooth road race.

I signed up for a 3 day license but unfortunantely left it behind yesterday, otherwise I'd be keen on the road race tomorrow. I presume its run similar to a crit just on a longer course? I might give it a go next week after the license gets posted out to me (or I could just sign up for a full license and stop delaying the inevitable....).

It is similar to a crit, except this time it is run over distance, for example this Saturday's D grade race is 5 laps of an 8.8km circuit. Which runs, leave start finish line, 500m down road turn left, ride 3km on the roughest, lumpiest road in the Shire of Serpentine, turn left ride 2km on decent road usually with a nasty crosswind, turn left onto another good road, often with a tailwind and ride back to start finish line, repeat.

The only other thing is A grade will be racing 8 laps, B 7 laps, C 6 laps and E 4 laps at the same time. Except A will be set off at 2pm, B at 2:02, C at 2:04, D at 2:06 & E at 2:08. E will usually be lapped by A & B groups and D by A.

The 3 day licence fee is credited on you full licence but you need to talk to Cycling WA for that.

Vets 20km ITT, 38.1kph in windy conditions, fastest in B, also FTD by 42 seconds... but after I crossed the finish line I nearly puked and then after making it back to the start I collapsed in the grass shaking for a few minutes. Very unpleasant.

I need to get a real TT bike - I took a lot of risks as the bike was very unstable above 50kph, and I had to get onto the base bars on a few occasions, while Sue Powell (Paralympics) rode the whole race on the aero bars.

Edit : 369W average, due to the combination of hills and fast bits the pacing wasn't great so the IF was 1.02 with a 53 TSS. 75% of the ride at threshold or above, 44% at VO2Max or above. For the final run to the line, I was holding an average of 579W for 38 seconds... might explain why I felt so crap afterwards.

Down in Canberra today so I decided to race. I rode the Uriara Roubaix.

I went out there thinking Uriarra Roubaix was just a name. When I got there i found out it was not, half the course was on a fairly rough dirt road. It was about 2km to get to the turn off to the dirt road then out we went 3.5km out then a turn around and 3.5km back. After this it was off on a real road a few km downhill slightly to a turn around and back out. Second race back I signed up for B grade, it didnt matter as A and B grade were combined. So off we went, the pace was on a little till the turn off and then it hit me how rough the road was.

Within one km a couple of people flatted and about 8 drink bottles were lost. On the way out to the turn around I was just picking my lines carefully and was actually feeling pretty good. At the turn around it was neutralised turn around apparently this meant people stopped to a standstill to turn around I ended up off on the soft stuff on the side of the road and really struggling to keep the bike upright I lost a fair bit of ground through the corner. Instead of rushing to get back on I just took my time I still felt pretty good so didnt want to try and sprint back on which I dont know if it would of worked on the dirt road anyway. I had just got 5m from back of the bunch about 5km later when my back wheel went flat, by now probably 1/4 of the race had flatted and a few others had dropped off.

I thought I will just replace the tube and get going again and just TT it to the finish. I replaced the tube and I must of stuffed it up and the tyre popped out again it was all over for me. I had to wait for someone to help me and I let the tube down a bit pushed the tyre back on and then hand pump it back up. I rolled around the road part back to the finish line (which was on the dirt) and wasnt brave enough to go back out and risk another flat so I just called it a day. Until the flat it was without a doubt the most fun race I have been in. It was so much different from normal and you really understand what the guys on the cobbles go through, it sucks as I was feeling so good. After the race I talked to a few and people specifically prepared for the race with different tyres etc to avoid punctures a big part of the race was staying puncture free. Forgot my garmin so not stats but when I got back on the bike after the flat I could not believe what gear I was in so I think it was pretty fast till I flatted which was probably only 8-9km into the race. It has made me really want to go ride the cobbles in europe so much fun!

First race of the season, mainly familiar faces from the criterium season, a couple from last years road race season and a few new faces. 17 starters in all in what started out as a nice sunny day, but by race start it was a constant drizzle. In the grand scheme of things, I want to get promoted to C grade in 6 races, which means finishing top 3 every week, or getting a few wins.

I had originally planned to be nice to the new people and not do any attacking or aggressive riding until the last couple of laps. Except nobody wanted to start at the front so I did, and as I want to be on the front for the first time up Gull Road. 3km of gently twisting single lane road we a rather rough surface, I kept the pace high, and continue it up Gull road. It was not until halfway down Rapids Road, so 5km from the start I got relieved of pace making duty, the speed settled down and after a little time mid pack, settled down as ticket collector.

Next circuit, the pace was pretty ordinary, some 5kph slower up Gull. So I decided to make things interesting next lap, took the lead on Karnup Road, put in a small dig as we turned into Hall Road, it was quickly countered by a number of riders and I was sitting in about 6th place as the relatively smooth and wide Hall Road turned into Gull. So I put on a blistering counter attacked, heard a few jaws drop and heart sinks as nobody could match it. Put in a decent gap and then promptly sat up after 1km, I could not solo 2.5 laps against the riders in this group. But things where going to plan that I just made up on the fly.

Settled down the back for the next two thirds of a lap, then onto Gull again and straight to the front for a hard, but not that hard tempo. Needed to made it harder, as when the bunch decided enough was enough and came past me, before the turn into Rapids Road. I was at the back, when one of the new guys decided to take a swig from his water bottle as we turned into Rapids Road, went right off his line and almost put me in the gravel. Then somebody on the front put the hammer down. I swung in behind the new guy and let him do the work, but still burnt a match or two getting back on.

Bell lap, onto Hall setting decent tempo on front, a couple of A graders go flying by as we hit Gull, check to see if anymore are following and no more A graders and I have a small gap, the bunch just let me slip away not expecting anything to happen. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together and I pick up the pace. About a minute later, a wheel comes past, I think I have been caught, look over and it is another A grader in hot pursuit of the other two. Then the curse of Nick strikes, the A grader on a straight road appears to lose his front wheel and hits the deck some 20m in front of me. Brake heavily, veer left, hit the gravel, avoid the downed rider, who is moving off the road, cursing. I hop back on the road, put my head down and keep riding. A minute later I am caught by Matt another D grade rider. I check over my shoulder and see a bunch bearing down on us. I sit up, then I realise it is A grade. Let them go past and get told "go back to your group" I am thinking Say What, the crash was a racing incident. They go past, I waited until they are a good 10m ahead before I start pedalling. But by then it is all over and a further kilometre down the road we are caught by the bunch as we turn into Rapids Road.

The rain was now blinding me, I was having great difficultly in seeing, as I am trying to recover and work on tactics for a sprint. Turn onto Karnup road for the last time, at least I can see a little, the pace is up, but not hard. I slowly make my way to the head of the bunch. A grab a wheel of a rider making a charge for the front, hang on, accelerate past him on what I thought was the last kink on the road, only to realise it is the second last kink on the road. And having spent so much energy in the race so far, I am unable to drive from that far out and settle for a constant pace and try to survive as half the bunch pass me and I finished 9th.

I might be the strongest rider in D grade but not always the smartest.

At the end of the race the A grade rider who yelled "go back to your group" was complaining to the Commissaire about two D grade riders taking advantage of A grade. He grumbled when I challenged him, seeing we where off the front of D grade well before the accident, which is when the two bunches met, and did not do anything when A grade finally caught and passed us. Actually without A grade interference my plan might of worked. Well there is always the next race.

And the rider who won was also riding his first race. The two curses of Nick, having a rider crash out in front of me on the final lap impacting on my result (my last three races), getting beaten by 1st time racers (my last two races)

twizzle wrote:Vets 20km ITT, 38.1kph in windy conditions, fastest in B, also FTD by 42 seconds... but after I crossed the finish line I nearly puked and then after making it back to the start I collapsed in the grass shaking for a few minutes. Very unpleasant.

I need to get a real TT bike - I took a lot of risks as the bike was very unstable above 50kph, and I had to get onto the base bars on a few occasions, while Sue Powell (Paralympics) rode the whole race on the aero bars.

Edit : 369W average, due to the combination of hills and fast bits the pacing wasn't great so the IF was 1.02 with a 53 TSS. 75% of the ride at threshold or above, 44% at VO2Max or above. For the final run to the line, I was holding an average of 579W for 38 seconds... might explain why I felt so crap afterwards.

Sent from my iThingy..

If this was from the effort, then that is good because you put everything into it and that is how they should be ridden, nothing left in the tank!

Foo

I don't suffer fools easily and so long as you have done your best,you should have no regrets.Goal 6000km